San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Eric Rogers is trying to remain optimistc after suffering a season-ending ACL injury. The Cal Lutheran graduate was primed to finally make his NFL regular-season debut.

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JOHN HEFTI/USA TODAY SPORTS Cal Lutheran graduate Eric Rogers was having a strong camp with the San Francisco 49ers before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last week.(Photo: John Hefti)

Eric Rogers keeps a positive outlook, Ricky Town is battling for a backup role and Taylor Schlopy sets a franchise record.

Local players and coaches are making news beyond the county lines. Here's what's being said and done:

The real pain will come when the San Francisco 49ers take the field for a game.

Eric Rogers wanted to be a top receiving threat for the organization this season. He relished the chance to play a significant role in the Chip Kelly transformation project.

But Rogers' NFL dream will be deferred for another season.

The Cal Lutheran graduate tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last Thursday during training camp practice.

'I am bummed I am going to miss games that I know I would have been playing in. That is the worst part,' Rogers told me by phone the day after the injury. 'But it's not the end of the world. I have to just move forward and not dwell on anything negative.'

Rogers, 25, said the non-contact injury occurred during the middle of practice during kickoff drills. After taking a practice period off, Rogers ran back on the field for a few plays and felt fine.

'But during the last period I went out there again and my knee kind of buckled on me,' Rogers said. 'It just felt weird to me. I ran a couple of routes, but it just didn't feel right.'

Rogers had an MRI performed that night and was delivered the bad news Friday morning. It's the first major injury of Rogers' football career aside from missing six weeks in high school after elbow surgery.

'I think our trainer was more sad than I was when he told me because I already kind of knew,' said Rogers, who led the Canadian Football League in receiving yards last season. 'I was already expecting the worse, so I was trying to move on as quickly as possible.'

Rogers said renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery on his knee next week in Pensacola, Florida.

Rogers plans to throw all of his energy into rehabilitation — largely to hasten his return and partly to keep his mind from ruminating on missing the season.

Rogers was in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013, but didn't make the team.

He worked his way through the Arena League and CFL to finally get another shot at making his regular-season NFL debut.

Rogers received 13 contract offers after visiting 16 NFL teams. He chose the 49ers, becoming Kelly's first free-agent signing once he was hired as head coach.

'I knew this was the best opportunity I was going to have and I would be on the field if I just stayed healthy. I guess it didn't happen this time around,' Rogers said. 'I just have to use this like a redshirt year and try to get back and hopefully have the same opportunity next year. You never know.' …

Ricky Town is fighting for the backup quarterback spot at the University of Arkansas.

The highly touted St. Bonaventure High graduate enrolled at USC during the spring of 2015, but decided to transfer at the start of fall camp.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema spoke about Town during the team's media day last Sunday.

'Ricky Town, it's kinda been a tale of two cities. I think a year ago coming in, he's a kid from USC trying to find his way, and now he's a Razorback that's found his way,' Bielema said. 'He understands what's expected of him, throws a nice ball. Probably tries to predetermine a little too much, but by the same amount, he's playing as well as he's played since he's been here. I think the kids understand and appreciate him a little bit more so now than ever.' …

Taylor Schlopy achieved a milestone in trademark fashion.

The center fielder belted a double to left field to set the career hits record for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch league last week.

Schlopy registered career hit No. 193 in the top of the third inning of a 6-5 walk-off loss to the Scrap Yard Dawgs.

The Oaks Christian School graduate was the second overall pick in the 2011 NPF Senior Draft by the Racers out of the University of Georgia. …

In a closing note, I have some personal news to share. This will be my last column for The Star.

I am excited to say I have accepted a job as the University of Tennessee football beat writer for the Knoxville News Sentinel.

I want to thank you — the readers — for your loyalty over the years. You were a big reason I never lost my motivation and passion for reporting.

I always worked my hardest to bring you the best stories from our county and updates on athletes once they left the area. It was a labor love made much easier because of the abundance of talent produced here. This county is truly blessed when it comes to sports.

I am going to miss all the relationships I have made in the athletic community. I am even going to miss the late nights crammed into the passenger seat of my Honda Civic in empty high school parking lots typing games stories on deadline.

The entire county played a role in me receiving this great opportunity in Tennessee. The Star helped me develop my fundamental skills as a journalist and allowed me the freedom to expand my abilities.

College sports is my true passion and it doesn't get any bigger than covering SEC football. I hope I can make everyone proud by doing great work for the News Sentinel.

I know The Star will continue providing the best local sports coverage because of the talented colleagues I have been privileged to work with here.